duplicitymemes | TDM #4 ( revised )

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TDM #4 ( revised )

« « « TEST DRIVE MEME » » »

« « « HERE WE ARE AGAIN

It's discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honesty and how few by deceit. Yet, solace is found in the lies we tell each other, comforted by the peace of knowing that we're not alone in our depravity, and once on this path, sin itself becomes the lesser of two evils masked in a cloud of normalcy.

This is how Duplicity has functioned since the beginning. The divide of power and social standing is overt in that Dominants influence the decisions made both publicly and privately while Submissives cater to the rules presented to them. It is the way of Duplicity to assign random designations at birth with no leeway in altering what has been given. Climate in the Up is far stricter than that of the Down; violating outlined personas for a Dominant or Submissive while in full view of others is punished by degree of infraction. In the Down, many tend to turn a blind eye to these sorts of offenses.

To counteract the discovery of the Deceit Gene – a natural "negative" response to all stimuli – the L.I.E.S. program was founded. The program had been designed to introduce new subjects to the current environment and test for the Deceit Gene through immersion in Duplicity's standing society. Sexual impulses and encounters increase the chances of detecting the gene within these individuals. Participants are typically released from L.I.E.S. after a year; however, results have remained unsatisfactory and testing still continues.

You’re here! Finally! Welcome to Duplicity.

After choosing a door and stepping through to the other side, the first thing that greets you are the enthusiastic faces of people in medical scrubs and pristine lab coats. Their enthusiasm translates to eagerness as they strip you of your clothes to perform a thorough examination—you will be healed, bathed, and given a paper gown to wear until your items can be processed and delivered to your residence later in the evening. You are also given a device that accesses the network as well as the time and location of orientation.

If you enter Duplicity into the Up, congratulations! You’re a Dominant, which means you are immediately picked up by a limo after processing and taken to your highrise. Here, it is two Dominants per floor with separate apartments. If you enter Duplicity into the Down, congratulations! You’re a Submissive, which means you are directed towards public transportation with the address of the motel you’ll be living in. Here, it is two Submissives per room with a shared common space for all rooms.

Enjoy your free time until orientation! Participation is mandatory by all new and old arrivals.

Oh, and one more thing. It's fucking cold. Better bundle up.

» » » LIES TRAVEL IN COMPANY

After stepping through the door and participating in orientation, LIERS are assembled together in the Up for a tour of Duplicity in its entirety. Seats are in pairs and randomly assigned to Dominants and Submissives alike. Traveling from Fiddler's Square, the train journeys through various parts of the Up, showcasing society and examples of lifestyle. Along the way, frequent stops are made; a variety of passengers can be seen exiting and entering the doors. A Dominant with a kneeling Submissive takes a seat near the front of the train at one stop. A small group of Submissives board and sit closer to the LIERS at another, all seemingly content in their roles. As the tour continues through the Up, the train passes close to the Market and White Wall Bridge and zips by North Park before heading into the Down and bypassing Red Wall Bridge and South Park.

The train makes a "final" stop at Riddler's Square, where inhabitants of the Down are instructed to return to their temporary housing. Those who live in the Up are permitted to stay on the train and revisit the same locations while returning.

« « « END IN THE DISCORD

While the societal climate between Dominants and Submissives remains somewhat neutral throughout Duplicity, there has been the occasional whisper of defiance and call for equality. Yet, demonstrations and visible proof of this unhappiness spreads faster by word of mouth on a day exactly when you need it most.

Welcome to Autonomy, a "traveling" nightclub that is never in the same place twice. People wanting to attend only learn of its lucrative location and password hours before it opens for business. Tonight, I choose the third door will get you inside and into the temporary freedom club Autonomy has to offer. In this circle, there are no assigned designations and no consequences for taking a role that isn't the one given by society. So, a Dominant may become the Submissive they've always wanted to be—or vice versa. Dominants and Submissives alike are able to mingle without repercussion and be themselves. Food, drinks, and private areas for more intimate – or if your preference is sexual – encounters are provided. Donations are accepted at any point during the night to further Autonomy's attempts of spreading the fulfillment that comes from being untitled.

On the night you choose to visit, Autonomy is holding a random lottery for temporary connections. When entering, you have the choice of submitting your name into this drawing to be paired with someone else in the club regardless of designation. A short while later, a message will pop up on your device with the name and information of your partner, and whether or not you choose to meet them is purely at your discretion. Having more than one connection isn't completely unusual either.

» » » TABLE IT FOR LATER

Gratification of being a successful Dominant or Submissive isn't necessarily simple. Learning curves are to be made, and mistakes will happen. Led by a Dominant and Submissive couple – Miriam and Victoria, who have been paired for twenty-two years – a monthly meeting for unattached Dominants and Submissives is held in the conference room of Morning Wood motel in the Down. The meeting starts a few minutes after nine and has no designated end time. The couple introduce themselves and explain the purpose of the meeting: learn the proper method for a new kink and possibly find your perfect partner. The space is intimate and well-stocked with refreshments.

To begin, Victoria, while blindfolded, balances on her hands and knees with her back perfectly level. Her partner, when ready, places various items on the level surface–a full cup, a plate. The Submissive is meant to hold the items until the Dominant believes she's reached her limit. The exercise is one of trust and understanding. The demonstration is a short one, followed by Miriam removing the blindfold and soothing her Submissive. The words are whispered low and with care, clearly a method that is specific to this couple. The process is concluded with the pair handing out workups, videos, and answering questions. Anyone wishing to practice Purposeful Submission can do so in the open room with a random volunteer, aided by the couple, or can find someone to take to one of the rented rooms. Sex may follow any scene but is not necessarily included. Experimenting with unattached Dominants and Submissives allows for new relationships to form.

« « « MOD & OOC NOTES

Please read carefully.

On each Test Drive Meme, there will be a section noting character roles based on birthdays; these will vary each TDM. On an IC level, character will still have gone through the doors but assignments OOCly are still randomized. When applying, there is a section of the application that denotes whether the character chose "left" or "right". When participating on the TDM, there will be a third option. Players may link either a top level or a thread (five or more comments from their character) from the TDM and title the link as "Door Pass". This means that the player is choosing to take the designation that they were randomly assigned on the TDM, rather than taking the designation of a door. If the player decides to select a door rather than use the pass, then they are trying their luck; they may get the same designation they had on the TDM or the opposite. Once the application is submitted, players can't change their choice.

To assign roles to characters for this TDM, use the following guide. All characters who have blue eyes or one blue eye and another color are Submissives. All characters who have brown eyes or one brown eye and another color are Dominants. Characters with any other color eyes are Dominants. To use this TDM as a door pass please link this on your app and place whether it is Dominant or Submissive.

Please remember to mark any necessary content, and have fun!!

» » » MAIN NAVIGATION « « «

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[She's in the mood to punish him, it seems. Though if anything the words have their effect, make him realise how much he deserves it, how unintentionally callous he's been. Because the thought of losing Portia fills him with a deep cold void, an ache like a knife slipped between the ribs and twisted. He hadn't considered it, what it might be like for her to watch him hang, how it felt for her after his arrest, both before she knew of his plan and after it. And she would have watched, wouldn't she, wouldn't have left him there to die alone, whether it was a permanent death or not.]

I wouldn't, Pasha. You know that.

[His voice is a little tight, a little raw.]

I've been a scoundrel, haven't I.

I can't make you stop doubting yourself or your worth, or whatever it is that trips you up every time.

[Though not for lack of trying.]

But you're not allowed to doubt me. Whether you're a doctor or scoundrel or murderer or anything, anything at all, I'm going to love you 'til my dying breath, Ilyushka.

[And yes his guilt is still a big and aching wound in him, the small slither of a voice is there in his head, telling him he doesn't deserve her after everything he's done, and all the ways he's failed her. But she is still here with him, despite all those things, still telling him that she loves him. And a splinter of that gets through and sinks in somehow past all the things he tells himself, all his internal darkness. That someone does love him, unfailingly, whether he deserves it or not.

Well, he certainly feels humbled. Just as well his face is hidden in her hair.]

All right. All right, I know you do. I love you, too.

I know.

[She sighs softly, snuggling up.]

I know you do. The stars will go out before I doubt that.

[And again for several long suspended moments he says nothing, just holds her that bet tighter, takes in the scent of her hair and the comforting, grounding nearness of her. To think of all the times he's kept away, convinced - utterly - of how much better off she is without him. And whilst he isn't exactly unconvinced of that now, he's glad to have her here, even if he would rather she was back in Vesuvia and away from all this strangeness. Believes, for once, that she's glad to have him here, too.

And she's managing here, isn't she? Quite brilliantly.]

Do you think they'd let me stay here, tonight? Or is that one of the rules I'm not supposed to break.

[He vaguely recalls something about not overstaying in the homes of dominants one has no contract with, but it's been an awful lot of information to take in in so short a time.]

I mean, uh. If I won't be in your way. I think I may be on my way towards too drunk to find my way back again.

Well, you aren't contracted yet, so we can probably fudge it if we get caught. I've never actually had anyone other than Leo stay over...

[She mulls it over.]

You're not allowed to move in, if we aren't contracted. But beyond that, I don't know. We'll wing it.

[There's something that's less a nudge and more a full-body sway.]

You can meet Leo at dinner! It'll be fun.

I'll be out of your hair by morning, promise. And if anyone is unhappy over it, you should of course tell them it was all my fault. Some drunk rowdy submissive gatecrashed your home and you couldn't get him to leave again, maybe they'll drag me back to that dive of a room and I won't have to worry about finding it.

[Unseen by her, he's smiling, all tease.]

In all seriousness though, I don't want to cause trouble for you, Pasha. Much as I want to meet this royal suitor of yours, I won't do anything that has the potential to put you at any kind of risk. I could even hold off on the rum, no doubt I'll soon sober up.

Eh, we'll just bullshit something about hashing out a possible contract. We're actual siblings, so it would involve lots of twisty legal things to set up comfortably, probably.

[She pats his ribs consolingly.]

You're no imposition, Ilya. We've had plenty of people over for dinner without any problem, and he likes you besides.

[There's that strangeness again, of hearing someone has known him, or some version of him, without him knowing anything about it. It seems as oblique and confounding to him as magic, and as such there's a distrust there, a dislike of it but--

--but. He wants to meet this person who matters so much to Pasha. Far more than he wants to go back out into this city to see what kind of trouble he can get into. There'll be plenty of time for trouble later.]

Well, if you're quite sure. I wouldn't want to deny either of you the pleasure of my company.

...I love him.

[It's a soft, beer-slicked admission, nearly mumbled into his chest.]

And... and him too. And he knows how much you mean to me. He'll be really happy to see you, just you wait.

[Well that's quite something, that soft hazy tone in her voice, and now he moves to wrap both arms around her, squeezes her tight.]

I'm happy for you, and I'm sure - if you've chosen him - he must be a delight. Obviously, I need to meet him at once.

Everything just sort of... fell together. It's like a dream, looking back on it.

[A dream with brandy and flirting and sex and raw trauma discussions.]

Of course you do. If I get really carried away, he might be your little brother someday, you know.

[And as long as he doesn't have to hear about the latter two parts, he'll continue to be deliriously happy for her.]

Ah, look at you. My little Pasha, thinking of marriage. It'd suit you, you know. All of that.

[Unlike him, who isn't - he believes - made for such things. But quite wisely he's going to keep quiet about that. Pushes his own dark feelings away and concentrates on her obvious joy, instead.]

...this isn't the best place, for a thing like that. But... he makes me happy. I want—

[She pauses.]

In a way, he's like you sometimes, about what he thinks he's earned or should settle with. I want... I want to give him some certainty, if I can, though.

Not too much like me, I hope.

[You know. Unreliable. Untrustworthy. All of that stuff, but again he won't say it, not in the wake of their earlier conversation.]

And that's what matters, isn't it? That you make each other happy. There are plenty of bad places, after all, worse than this maybe, um...

[Though he supposes he doesn't know yet, isn't sure what it will be like, so--]

And if we got here, that means there must be some way back.

Leo's his own man. He's just... he's had a rough go of it, family-wise. You don't get to be a third-born, second son and be crowned king, elsewise.

[She shifts her shoulders, an almost-shrug.]

Should be. There have been disappearances, over the months; the other you, and so on. I certainly hope it's a homecoming thing.

No, I don't suppose you would. Obviously he'll just have to be adopted into ours when you bring him home with you.

[Not that what they have is anything approaching traditional, and is often far-flung due to Julian's propensity for travel (read: running away), but at least their connections are strong ones, rooted in genuine love.]

And let's uh, let's hope so, shall we?

[Because the alternative has an ominous feel to it; perhaps he'll attempt some kind of information gathering exercise later, once his head has stopped reeling from everything he's already been presented with.]

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TDM #4 ( revised )

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